Veteran Organization | The Distinguished Flying Cross Society

Evergreen Family Wines is Washington State’s largest vine to bottle, family-owned wine company, dedicated to crafting exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of Washington State. With more than 3,000 estate acres on the renowned Wahluke Slope and Ancient Lakes AVAs, we maintain complete control from grape to bottle, allowing us to ensure every wine is handcrafted with precision, care, and an unwavering commitment to quality.

At the heart of Evergreen Family Wines is a deep commitment to Washington State. Our vineyards showcase the natural beauty and character of the region, and our team is passionate about sharing our family’s dedication to winemaking with wine lovers everywhere. We strive not only to produce outstanding wines, but also to further consumer education and appreciation of Washington State wines while cultivating strong, lasting relationships within the wine community.

Through every bottle, we celebrate the land, the people, and the passion that make Washington one of the world’s great wine regions.

The DFCS has arranged with Evergreen Family Wines to create an exclusive wine club for DFCS Members. Evergreen Family Wines of Washington State wines is now offering a discount to DFCS members. See below for more information

Naval Helicopter Association

May 11th - 15th 2026

NHA Symposium

The Naval Helicopter Association (NHA) Symposium is the premier annual gathering of the rotary-wing and tilt-rotor aviation community, bringing together active-duty personnel, veterans, industry leaders, government representatives and aviation enthusiasts.

This symposium serves as a dynamic forum to exchange ideas, showcase innovation, and strengthen the operational and professional excellence of robust schedule of panels, technical briefings, keynote addresses, and networking events. Attendees will explore current challenges, emerging technologies, and the future of vertical lift.

More than just an event, the NHA Symposium reflects our enduring mission: to preserve the legacy, advance the capabilities, and celebrate the people who make up the Naval rotary-wing and tilt-rotor community.

Reunion Update - 22 March 2026

Registration for our 53rd Annual Real Reunion is now live, and available for your review at www.riverratsreunion.com. We listened to your feedback from last year's Reunion, and I wanted to call out a few details that I hope meet your approval:

FRIDAY'S FLIGHT SUIT PARTY - We listened to your feedback from last year, and are providing the option of registering with round-trip bus service or without. Also, the cost of the party includes self-serve beer and wine as opposed to waiting in lines at s cash bar.

TACTICS CONFERENCES - Instead of three back-to-back seminars, we will host one TC per day. This should improve attendance and make planning easier for attendees. If you're interested in presenting a TC this year, please send your proposal to me at irish@river-rats.org.

ONLINE REGISTRATION - We've created a stand-alone secure site to submit your online registrations. Initial feedback has been that this new site is much more user friendly than last year's. Our host platform is Zeffy, a system designed especially for nonprofits. While there is no cost for us to use Zeffy, the system does prompt users to make a voluntary donation at the end of the registration process. Please keep in mind that this is completely voluntary on your part, and you do not need to make a donation.

SPONSORSHIPS - This year we are offering a limited number of Reunion sponsorship opportunities. These include branding lanyards and glassware, sponsoring the hospitality suite and the bars for our Saturday Banquet. Should you and/or your business be interested in exploring these opportunities, please email me.

MARINE FIGHTER FORAY 2026

The MARINE FIGHTER FORAY is on the flight schedule for October 14 – 18, 2026. The Foray will be at the same location as the 2022 Phantom Phoray: Hyatt Regency Dallas, 300 Reunion Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207

(https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/dfwrd-hyatt-regency-dallas)

And… the Foray is not just for air crew. We highly encourage any and all Marine enlisted, officer, maintenance, admin, support and family members of the Marine fighter community to attend. Also, if your squadron already holds squadron reunions, consider piggybacking off the Foray and have your reunion concurrent with the Foray in Dallas. Contact the Foray Ops O for details.

The Marine Fighter Foray schedule and venue will replicate the 2022 Phantom Phoray, only much larger since the Foray is being opened up to all Marine Fighter communities. There will be:

Symposiums
F-18 and F-35 status and combat deployment briefs to include Iran-Iraq and Afghanistan battle strategies and operations; and
of course… individual “There I was” stories/yarns/tales
Flight jacket / squadron shirts happy hours
Squadron dinners and photos
Marine Corps University Interviews
Professional Group Displays (Martin Baker ejection seats, Lockheed Martin F-35, Top Gun, Distinguished Flying Cross Society)
Golf tournament

On December 22, the Wall Street Journal published an article about retired Navy Captain Royce Willams who will soon receive the Medal of Honor:

"Buried in a recent 3,000-page defense policy bill is good news that won’t receive enough attention. The legislation would allow a living legend of naval aviation to receive the nation’s highest military honor. A Defense Department video called 100-year-old Royce Williams the “forgotten fighter ace of the Korean war.” His valor is worth remembering on its merits, and the history is instructive about the threats now facing the U.S. President Trump should move quickly to award Capt. Williams the medal of honor."

Task & Purpose published the following article that provides background about the actions leading to the final decision to award Captain Williams the Medal of Honor:

Nicholas Slayton

Published Dec 8, 2025 3:52 PM EST

Legendary Navy aviator Royce Williams, who shot down four Soviet MiG-15 fighters in 1952, is the inspiration for legislation that would make it easier for troops and veterans to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Photos via the U.S. Naval Institute and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

More than 70 years after he took part in the longest dogfight in Navy history, scoring four aerial victories, Royce Williams might finally get the Medal of Honor.

Over the weekend, Congress released the text for the compromise National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense policy bill outlining spending plans and goals. This year, it is a record $901 billion. Nestled into the large defense appropriations bill is Sec. 591, which would upgrade Williams’ Navy Cross to the Medal of Honor for “acts of valor during the Korean War.”

Those acts involve taking on seven Soviet MiG-15s in a 35-minute dogfight almost singlehandedly, in a battle that was kept under wraps for years despite Williams’ achievements.

On Nov. 18, 1952, Williams — then a Navy lieutenant flying in his Grumman F9F-5 Panther for his second mission that day — was with three other aviators over the Sea of Japan when seven Soviet Air Force fighter planes emerged. Two of the American planes had to return to their ships due to mechanical issues, leaving just Williams and his wingman in the skies as the Soviets closed in. As they flew by, Williams let out a burst of his F9F’s guns, scoring a hit. One MiG went down, with Williams’ wingman breaking off to chase it. Royce Williams was now alone, against six Soviet pilots in jets that were more advanced than his.

Over the course of 35 minutes, Williams banked and weaved his Panther, trying to avoid getting in the MiGs’ sights. He quickly downed a second Soviet jet, and kept using his maneuverability to line up passing shots with his limited ammo. He took out a third. Then he heavily damaged another that was eventually lost.

“In the moment I was a fighter pilot doing my job,” Williams told Task & Purpose in 2022. “I was only shooting what I had.”

Eventually, he ran out of ammunition and was forced to break off. He flew back to the Navy task force — which fired on him at first, mistaking him for the many more Soviet planes that had outnumbered him — and managed to land. After-action inspections found 263 bullet holes in his Panther. Somehow, Williams and the plane survived.

For his actions in the wild dogfight that day, Williams was awarded a Silver Star. But his actions were covered up — and his official victories listed as downing one enemy plane and damaging another — over fears it could heighten U.S.-Soviet tensions. So for the rest of his career, which included actions in Vietnam and commanding a ship, his record stayed that way, the truth kept hidden. It was only in the 21st century that retired Capt. Williams’ story came out.

For more than a decade, there has been a push to get Williams the Medal of Honor, with backers including retired Rear Adm. Doniphan Shelton and members of Congress. Three years ago, in December 2022, then-Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro upgraded his Silver Star to a Navy Cross, saying that Williams “clearly distinguished himself during a high-risk mission and deserve[s] proper recognition.” Williams received the award in January 2023.

The text in this year’s defense spending bill would authorize awarding Williams, who is now 100, the Medal of Honor and waive any time limitations on presenting him with the award.

Voting on the bill is expected this month.